Looking At and Beyond the Mask: Identity Explorations

Esther Bubley
A Child Whose Home is An Alley Dwelling Near the Capitol
1943
Gelatin Silver Print, 10 7/8 x 10 1/8 in.
Gift of Cam and Wanda Garner, 2012

Esther Bubley (1921-1998) was an influential photographer known for her documentary work during the mid-20th century.  Her favorite subjects were ordinary people. She had a gift for capturing the private moments of sensitive subjects, communicating their humanity without compromising their dignity. Her first project acknowledged the wartime housing shortage in Washington, D.C. Bubley photographed A Child Whose Home Is an Alley Dwelling near the Capitol for her “Around Washington” series. This image shows a young boy from one of the overcrowded settlements constructed in Washington, D.C . alleys for poor and working-class families. In this lesson, students consider how photographs help viewers see, think, and wonder about the life experiences of others.

Esther Bubley
Gene Tanner And His Dog, Sergeant, Tomball, TX
1945
Geltain silver print, 10 13/16 x 10 11/16 in
Gift of Kenneth Polin, 2014

At the height of her career as a photojournalist, from the 1940s through the 1960s, Esther Bubley traveled around the U.S. and abroad taking deeply revealing photographs of seemingly everyday life.  In 1945, Bubley spent 3 months in the town of Tomball, Texas. She took hundreds of photos of people going about their daily lives. Her subjects were not famous people; they were citizens of a small American town. Her photographs were published in magazines that were seen across the United States at a time when many people relied on print sources to learn about people and events that were not in their immediate communities. In this lesson, students consider how photographs tell a story. 

Clarence John Laughlin
Black and White No. 2
1940
Gelatin silver print, 14 x 11 in.
Acquired by the artist, 1948

Clarence John Lauhglin (1905-1985) was an American photographer best known for his photographs of the architecture and landscapes of the American South. His photographic style emphasized shadow, light and texture. Laughlin juxtaposed the architectural elements of the building with the human form of a woman, drawing attention to the strength, rugged beauty and affects of time on both. In this lesson, students consider how photographs can encourage contemplation of complex aspects of identity.

Alfred Eisenstaedt
Marian Anderson on Stage Singing at her 70th Recital of the Season, Academy of Music, Philadelphia, PA
1938
Gelatin silver print, 9 15/16 x 7 15/16 in
Gift of Mel and Gail Mackler, 2013

Alfred Eisenstaedt (1898-1995) was a German-born American photographer and photojournalist known for his work in candid photography and photojournalism. He was skilled at capturing spontaneous moments and emotions in everyday life and in public events. This photograph was part of a series  Eisenstaedt took while working for Life magazine, one of the most important publications of the time. Marian Anderson was one of the most celebrated singers of the 20th century who broke racial barriers in the classical music world. In this photograph, she was performing at her 70th recital of the year at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia. In this lesson, students consider how photographs can help us consider other perspectives.